Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian on Sunday flagged off the first-ever short Haj flight from the Cochin International Airport. As many as 979 pilgrims were scheduled to embark from Kochi as part of the special package launched by the Haj Committee of India.

“The package has been designed based on feedback from pilgrims, particularly working professionals and businesspersons, who sought an option to return early after completion of the core Haj rituals. Under the category, 10,000 pilgrims will undertake Haj with a reduced stay of approximately 20 days in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, compared to the regular Haj duration of 40–45 days,” an official release said.

Pilgrims travelling under the package are scheduled to return by June 5. The facility is being operated from seven embarkation points—Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Ahmedabad.